Indulging in fine food and drink is part of the fun of holidays, but just as January follows December, a few extra pounds are sure to appear after all that holiday snacking and feasting. Luckily, there are things you can do to keep off the weight and still have lots of fun at parties, gatherings and celebrations.

As Fitness Director for Fitness magazine, Janet Lee plans and coordinates all fitness-related editorial coverage. She has been covering health and fitness for the last ten years and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a health/fitness instructor. In her free time she enjoys yoga, weight lifting and running. Here she offers tips for keeping that extra weight off during the holidays:

• Work out. Many people have overloaded schedules during the holidays, what with time spend shopping, traveling and entertaining. But Lee recommends doing your best to fit in some exercise time, too.
• Reduce stress. Finding the time to do some yoga, walking or aerobic exercise will not only help fight holiday weight-gain, but can reduce the stress that often builds up during December. Take an indoor cycling class at the gym, hop on a treadmill, or work out to great music, and you might just feel some of that holiday anxiety melt away.
• Eat beforehand. If you're headed to a party where there will be tempting goodies and desserts, and where you're not likely to find any dishes that are low in calories or fat, make yourself a sensible meal before you leave home. When you get to the party, concentrate on mingling rather than munching.
• Drink water. Lee also recommends staying hydrated to keep your body and mind healthy during the holidays. All that extra running around can get to you, so you've got to prepare by drinking a lot of water, starting in the morning. Drinking plenty of water can also be part of a weight loss regimen at the holidays or any time of year.
• Temptation vs. control. It's fine to give into temptation a little bit and let yourself enjoy the foods that make the holidays special. Just be sure to limit yourself. If you exercise some self-control this December, you won't have to do so much exercising come January.

For more information about staying trim through the holidays, check out the following organizations or websites: